australian welsh male choir newsletter - december 2019 · australian welsh male choir newsletter -...

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AUSTRALIAN WELSH MALE CHOIR NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2019

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The Choir visited the Phillip Island

Cultural Centre on 10th October, to

sing a concert for World Vision. An

audience of around 200 people

turned out, ensuring a good bottom

line for a worthwhile cause.

Bern Carroll, whose

international career as a

singer spans more than

20 years, donated her

services as a guest artist;

the Shire of Bass

donated the Hall free of

charge, and the free

afternoon tea was also

provided by volunteers.

A fantastic community

effort all round.

Phillip Island photos: Lyn Brown

Great to see Simon Loveless back at the piano, too. He was principal choir accompanist for a decade.

The TOM award – the competition

for the section of the month - is

generally decided by setting all four

sections of the choir to learn their

parts in a new song. It went to the

basses in October for Working Man.

The first tenors struck back in

November, though, by mastering

their demanding part in the Nigerian

Christmas Carol, Betelehemu.

And now to the undoubted high

point of this year.

Tom Buchanan, our Musical

Director, had an idea to lift the

profile of the choir, and to raise

public awareness of Welsh Culture in

our fair city.

google image

To this end, he proposed a free

concert at St Paul’s Cathedral, to be

accompanied by a brass band

(another Welsh touch), and to be

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followed up by a traditional

“afterglow” event (lots of informal

singing, audience participation and

optional alcohol).

Young and Jackson’s pub was chosen

as the venue for the afterglow.

It is one thing to have a good idea,

and quite another to bring it to

fruition.

First step – get the Committee on

board. It is the kind of event where

there are large risks as well as gains.

Some years ago, the Greater City of

Dandenong Brass Band helped the

choir to celebrate forty years of

singing at the Frankston Cultural

Centre. Mark Carter, events

organiser approached them, and

they were keen to be involved here

as well. He was also responsible for

lots of the groundwork with the

Cathedral. The wonderful Michelle

Nguyen, our principal accompanist,

also hit the ground running.

The Welsh Church in Melbourne was

approached, and they threw their

own considerable influence behind

the event, and our magnificent

patrons, especially Mrs. Tamie

Fraser (who attended), weighed in as

well. This was not an event that just

happened. A great many people

worked very hard.

Tom needed to rearrange and

redistribute music for the band, or

have it done for them, as well as

handling the myriad questions

inevitably addressed to the ‘point

man’. Mark Carter, our events

organizer handled a stream of issues

too, and made sure that venues prior

to St Paul’s were able to be utilized

as practice. Mark’s is a job that

demands a great deal, and is largely

taken for granted as long as it goes

right!

Snap Printing in Dandenong South

weighed in with lots of colourful

posters, pamphlets and programs.

Choir members used them for

letterbox drops, coffee shop

distribution and so on.

Geoff Selby, Ian Mackie and Greg

Shoemark did wonders with the

message on Facebook.

Bernie Rumble and Tony Dickinson,

our foundation members, somehow

appeared on Daniel Andrews’

Facebook page.

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Most people found themselves going

the extra few yards - maybe even the

extra mile. And that’s why it all

worked. Because we all worked!

Phil Young, our Secretary had his

usual heavy workload considerably

bulked out, and choristers worked

hard to master the music – City

Chapter choristers even added

repertoire for a spot of their own.

Here’s a letter from Maurie

Richardson mentioning some other

input: -

‘"ABOVE AND BEYOND" AWARDS

When I had to pull out of pulling the

trailer this last weekend because of a

break down, Dom Xuereb had to

chase around organising someone

else to pull the trailer - from Bali.

(Well done Dom. Absolutely "Above

and Beyond”)

Greg Penniciuk , fresh out of hospital

had to get permission from his

doctor to drive to be able to step in

at the last minute and "save our

bacon".

(Well done Greg - also "Above and

Beyond")

Mike McCormack rode in with us to

help with the heavy lifting and he

also got the keyboard and other

equipment back from Young and

Jacksons while Greg and I enjoyed a

well-earned meal. (Also "Above and

Beyond")

Lew Wilson set up and packed up the

sound system in the church on the

day.

(Also "Above and Beyond")

John Annable provided and set up

his own speakers at Young and

Jackson's.

(Also “Above and Beyond")

Special mention to Phil Young who

does so much in the background: like

advertising and programs, etc., but is

always one of the first to volunteer

when something needs doing. (Also

“Above and Beyond")

And to all those other members who

always "roll up their sleeves" and

help. Too many to name them all

without forgetting someone. (Also

“Above and

Beyond")’

I’m sure there are others to thank

and to celebrate. Recording

technicians, both audio and video

were organized by real people, not

by some mysterious outside force.

Choristers personally invited other

choirs, family, workmates and

friends to attend. Choristers were

polled and asked for a commitment

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to attend some months ago. Fifty-six

were on the risers!

The result was spectacular! More

than 1000 people filled the

Cathedral to capacity.

The audience at St Pauls from the choir risers

This was the largest audience the

choir has sung for as an individual

group, and most choristers were

very energised by the occasion. The

Band reported similar sentiments.

and here it is from the back! (Photo: Lyn Brown)

One bandswoman was heard to

remark that we should all just pack

and go tour United Kingdom. Jamie

Lawson, the band’s Musical Director,

began by telling the audience that

this was the largest group he had

ever played for.

Rehearsing - photo: C Manktelow

After the concert the choir headed

over the road for the afterglow

session. A minor glitch was corrected

when Maurie Richardson finally got

the piano placed – not an easy task

given the dense crowd in the bar –

and singing started, with many

Melbourne Welsh members and the

general audience joining in. It was

loud, noisy, harmonious and a whole

lot of fun.

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Welsh culture indeed. And so home,

after a remarkable day.

Wednesday 30th October saw the

choir Singing in the Pub again, this

time back at Kirks on the Esplanade.

Photo: Lindsay Richardson

We were joined this time by

Cranbourne Chorale, now conducted

by Lucas De Jong, a familiar face to

Welsh music followers in

Melbourne.

photo: Geoff Selby

The Conga line was a finale for Peter

Allen’s I go to Rio! As usual, Kirk’s

patrons joined in the singing heartily,

and a good time was had by all. As

can be seen below, there was a high

degree of inter-choir co-operation.

Tom Buchanan is leading Senzenina.

photo: Geoff Selby

It is the Australian Welsh opener for

the night. A deal of help was evident.

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And so to another of our traditions –

a country weekend on November 9th

and 10th, this time for return visits to

Shepparton Lifestyle Village on the

Saturday, and Swanpool Memorial

Hall/Cinema on the Sunday. There

was again a very good turn-out of

choristers. (Twenty choristers and

some partners opted to travel by

coach, and to spend Saturday night

at the Wangaratta Motor Inn.

Michael Abernethy deserves a thank

you for organising this bit)

Shepparton was welcoming as

always. The choir sang to a full

capacity audience of around two

hundred people.

Afternoon tea was quite splendid, as

indeed it was at Swanpool also.

For those of us with rural or semi-

rural roots Swanpool brings a lot of

memories to the fore. Most of our

bus trips take us to provincial cities,

or at least large towns. Swanpool is

comprised of perhaps a kilometre-

long strip of highway, with a general

store/service station, a nursery, the

Memorial Hall, the small cenotaph, a

cluster of houses, some sports

facilities, and a couple of churches.

The choir was fed at the nearby St

Aidan’s Anglican church.

Photo: Geoff Selby

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Risers were placed before lunch,

and the bus rolled in to a gathering

audience which filled the hall almost

to capacity. At Swanpool the choir

was fortunate to have Jane Still sing

as a guest between brackets of

songs. She was accompanied by

Heather Lloyd on piano.

As can be seen, the pleasant weather

outside made lining up easy.

photo: Lyn Brown

And so to business!

After the concert, Tom Buchanan

was asked to sign a memorial stool

as a memento of the choir’s visit.

He declared that the choir would be

back. We hope so!

Photo: Geoff Selby

Singng in the Pub in November

carried on the Welsh culture theme

evident at St Pauls, since our guest

choirs were Melbourne Welsh Male

Choir and theMornington Peninsula

Welsh Ladies Choir.

Melbourne Welsh.. Photo Lindsay Richardson

The two male choirs sang most of

their items as a very large single

entity, which made for a very

powerful sound. The ladies made a

very good counterfoil during their

brackets.

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Peninsula Welsh Ladies Choir..Photo Geoff Selby

One of our longest serving members

had an 87th birthday, too. Happy

Birthday Bernie Rumble!

Bernie..Photo Lindsay Richardson

Each year, Frankston City runs the

Festival of Light celebration, when

the big municipal Christmas Tree is

illuminated. It is a community fete

and a showcase for local artists all

rolled into one. The Choir sang a

twenty minute bracket of Christmas

Carols to help things along.

December 11th saw the last public

performance of the year with a

Christmas special singing in the pub

at Kirks on the Esplanade. The Choir

sang from its Christmas repertoire,

and the audience joined in a number

of traditional Carols. The voluntary

collection for November was

presented to the Pub staff as a much

deserved thankyou for their support.

The annual breakup was held at the

Frankston RSL on 13th December.

Over dinner, many choristers were

recognised for their service to the

choir.

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Life memberships were awarded to: - Barry Tucker Mike McCormack Noel Moore Gerald Freestone Twenty Year Service award Gordon Donaldson Ten Year Service plaques: - Terry Read Cedric Howard Leon Knoop. Certificates of appreciation were presented to: - John Annable Ron Marshall Peter Murray Philip Manktelow John Evans Tony Dickinson and Bernie Rumble were presented with certificates commemorating 45 years with the choir. At 7:30 am on Saturday 21st December, listeners to ABC774 were treated to live performances of Betelehemu and Lo How a Rose. Greg Shoemark from our City Chapter was able to organise this small window of great publicity for our choir. Thankyou to Greg and to those choristers who rose at such an unappealing hour on a Saturday.

Warming up at Southbank. Photo Geoff Nougher

and inside... photo: Michelle Nguyen 1

VALE

Rowley Morris was a longstanding member of our choir. He was for many years

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responsible for keeping attendance records. Rowley had enduring and serious medical problems that seemed only to make him more determined to overcome them. He was a pillar of our choir, and a pillar of his church. We will miss him, and we extend our sympathy to his family and loved ones. VALE

Gordon Donaldson was a member of the Bass section for twenty years, and was for a time the section leader. He was a great source of encouragement to those of us who were beginners. He was a remarkably keen tourist to UK, and the choir history contains diary reminiscences of one of his trips. Gordon’s kindness and his irreverent humour will be sadly missed! Again, we think of his family at this difficult time.

Many thanks to our Patrons and

Sponsors. We are most grateful to

all who help to cover the substantial

costs for a choir of our size,

especially to Mr Sidney Baillieu Myer

AC, Mrs Tamie Fraser AO, and Dr

Haydn James, our Patrons.

Our Sponsors:-

615 McClelland Drive Langwarrin Vic

3910. (03) 9789 8266.

774 Esplanade Mornington, Vic 3931

(03)5975 2007.

Dingley Village Community Bank

11/79 Centre Dandenong Road

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Dingley Village 3172 (03)9551 6699

N.B. Deadline for inclusion of articles

is the last day of February, May,

August, November. David Brown.

Editor. All correspondence to

Secretary AWMC

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday, 26th February, 2020

8.00 pm Singing in the Pub, Kirks,

Mornington. (Note no Singing in the

Pub for January.) This event often

books out early. Ph. 5975 2007

Sunday 1st March 2020 3.00 pm. (St

David’s Day) Gymanfa Ganu (a

musical thanksgiving celebration) St

Michaels Church, Collins St

Melbourne,

Wednesday 4th March 2020

Cranlana Concert, 62 Clendon Rd,

Toorak.

Wednesday 25th March 2020, 8.00

pm, Singing in the Pub, Kirks,

Mornington. This event often books

out early. Ph. 5975 2007.

And a brief footnote in this season of

charity and goodwill! One of our

number – Ron Simpson – always

sings Prayer of the Children with a

particular relevance to his own

experience. In 1993 Ron was a

member of a team who delivered

medical and other supplies to the

refugee children about whom the

song was written

As can be seen, it is a memory wich

will not soon be erased.

We wish all readers of this

newsletter a very merry Christmas

and an excellent new year

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australian welsh male choir newsletter - december 2019 · australian welsh male choir newsletter -...

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